The race for Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate seat is now a statistical dead heat with Republican Pat
Toomey getting 48 percent of likely voters to 46 percent for Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak,
according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

This compares to a 50 - 43 percent likely voter lead for Toomey, a former congressman, in
a September 22 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

"Pennsylvania is a blue state and Democrats there have begun to come home," said Peter
A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "They are more
engaged than they were earlier in the race. This is not unusual, especially in off-year elections.
Democrats often engage later in the campaign than do Republicans. The political environment is
more favorable now for them, as evidenced by President Barack Obama's improved, but still
decidedly negative, job approval rating."

There is a sizable gender gap in the Senate race, with Toomey leading 54 - 40 percent
among men and Sestak ahead 53 - 41 percent among women.

"Sestak's lead among women has remained virtually unchanged over the past month, but
Toomey's once 21-point lead among men has been cut by seven points," said Brown.

Pennsylvania likely voters' views of the economy are strongly tied to their candidate
preference. Among the 14 percent who think the economy is improving, Sestak leads 84 - 14
percent, while Toomey leads 70 - 23 percent among the 35 percent who think it is worsening.
Sestak leads 51 - 44 percent among the 49 percent who think it is remaining the same.

Despite the recent Democratic lean in Pennsylvania politics, likely voters say 51 - 43
percent that they want their new U.S. senator to oppose rather than support President Obama's
policies. Voters also say 45 - 38 percent they want Republicans, rather than Democrats, to control
the U.S. Senate next year.

"There is still a mood in the likely Pennsylvania electorate for change, which appears more
likely to help Toomey than Sestak," said Brown. "Among the 33 percent of likely voters who say
they are angry with the federal government, Toomey leads 77 - 17 percent.

"This is now a very close race in factors beyond the matchup. When voters are asked
which candidate most shares their values they split 44 - 44 percent. Sestak is viewed favorably
by 45 percent and unfavorably by 36 percent. Toomey gets thumbs up from 46 percent and
thumbs down from 37 percent," said Brown.

From October 13 - 17, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,046 Pennsylvania likely voters,
with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the
nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

4. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the
candidates were Joe Sestak the Democrat and Pat Toomey the Republican, for whom
would you vote? (If undecided) If you had to choose today, would you vote for
Sestak or Toomey? (This table includes Leaners)

TREND: If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the
candidates were Joe Sestak the Democrat and Pat Toomey the Republican, for whom
would you vote? (If undecided) If you had to choose today, would you vote for
Sestak or Toomey? (This table includes Leaners)

19. I am going to mention four phrases and ask you which one best describes how
you feel about the way the federal government works. Do you feel enthusiastic,
satisfied but not enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry?